Shipping pallet arrangement and methods for increasing trailer loads to reduce road milage and cut costs

ABSTRACT

A shipping pallet arrangement includes a first pallet having a first underdeck opening to a first storage volume under a top deck, said top deck supporting goods for transport; and a first underdeck container holding goods and received within the first storage volume. A method for shipping goods in a transport container includes positioning a first pallet in the transport container, the first pallet having a first underdeck opening to a first storage volume under a top deck having goods thereon; storing goods within a first underdeck container; after the step of storing and the step of positioning, receiving the first underdeck container at least partially within the first storage volume; and after the step of receiving, shipping the transport container.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shipping pallets for shipping goods,and particularly to a shipping pallet arrangement beneficially employingavailable volume under a top deck of a shipping pallet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When shipping goods in a trailer, it is most often the goal to includeas many goods as possible in the trailer in order to ultimately reduceroad mileage and cut costs. This is particularly true for companies suchas Walmart, Home Depot, Costco, and any other company that ships such alarge volume of goods that even a modest increase in packing efficiencycan result in very large savings. For example, in the second quarter of2019, Walmart's CEO announced that Walmart would be able to save atleast $30 million in 2019 by switching to the use of lighter steppingstools in its distribution centers. Stepping stools are used to pack thetrailers with goods all the way to the roof. This increases the loadcapacity and ultimately reduces road mileage and cuts costs. Merely byincreasing the likelihood that workers would employ the stepping stools(apparently by making those stepping stools lighter and easier to use),Walmart estimated at least a $30 million savings for one year.

With such astounding savings from such a modest increase in potentialload capacity, there is clearly an ever-present need in the art to seekthe most efficient use of trailer capacity. The present inventionaddresses this need by providing shipping pallet arrangements andshipping methods that take advantage of trailer space that hasheretofore been overlooked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement comprising: a first pallet having a first underdeck openingto a first storage volume under a top deck, said top deck supportinggoods for transport; and a first underdeck container holding goods andat least partially received within the first storage volume.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the pallet has astringer or stringer board and length and width dimensions, the lengthbeing in the direction of the stringer or stringer board and extendingbetween a first end and a second end of the pallet, the width beingperpendicular to the length.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the first underdeckcontainer is insertable and removable, in a drawer-like fashion, intoand out of the first underdeck opening in the direction of the length ofthe pallet.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, further comprising a secondunderdeck container holding goods and received at least partially withinthe first storage volume.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the first and secondunderdeck containers connect to one another so as to be moved together,forming a train of underdeck containers insertable and extractable in adrawer-like fashion.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, further comprising: a secondunderdeck opening to a second storage volume under the top deck of thepallet; and at least a third underdeck container holding goods beingreceived within the second storage volume, the third underdeck containerbeing insertable and removable, in a drawer-like fashion, into and outof its respective underdeck opening in the direction of the length ofthe pallet.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, further comprising a fourthunderdeck container holding goods and received at least partially withinthe second storage volume.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the third and fourthunderdeck containers connect to one another so as to be moved together,forming a train of underdeck containers, insertable and extractable in adrawer-like fashion.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the first underdeckcontainer and the second underdeck container are connected by a malemember mating with a female member.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the male member is a rodand the female member is an aperture.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the first underdeckcontainer and the second underdeck container are connected by a latchand catch mechanism.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the first underdeckcontainer includes runners suitable to facilitate insertion andextraction of the first underdeck container.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shipping palletarrangement as in any embodiment above, wherein the pallet is one of aplurality of pallets, each of the plurality of pallets having anunderdeck opening to a storage volume under a top deck holding goods,said plurality of pallets arranged so that each of the underdeckopenings of each of the plurality of pallets align to create anunderdeck tunnel under the top decks of the plurality of pallets; andwherein the underdeck container is one of a plurality of underdeckcontainers, each of the plurality of underdeck containers holding goodsand each being connectable to another of the plurality of underdeckcontainers so as to form a train of underdeck containers insertable andextractable in a drawer-like fashion into and out of the underdecktunnel.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method forshipping goods in a transport container comprising: positioning a firstpallet in the transport container, the first pallet having a firstunderdeck opening to a first storage volume under a top deck havinggoods thereon; storing goods within a first underdeck container; afterthe step of storing and the step of positioning, receiving the firstunderdeck container within the first storage volume; and, after the stepof receiving, shipping the transport container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first type of pallet (4-way blockdesign) employable in the shipping pallet arrangement of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pallet of FIG. 1 shown with goods stackedon the pallet and goods in underdeck containers;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1 , showing an underdeckcontainer during insertion/extraction into/out of a storage volume underthe top deck;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second type of pallet (2-way stringerdesign) employable in the shipping pallet arrangement of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view, with top deck removed, showing a singleunderdeck container received in an underdeck opening;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view, with top deck removed, showing multipleunderdeck containers received in a single underdeck opening;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment wherein underdeck containers canconnect and disconnect;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 10 is a cross-section as in FIG. 8 , but showing an example ofunderdeck containers that stack/nest within each other;

FIG. 11 is cross section view of an embodiment of an underdeck containerhaving runners thereon;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a tractor-trailer having the trailer loadedwith the shipping pallet arrangements of certain embodiments of thisinvention, with the pallets in a straight loading pattern;

FIG. 13 shows common trailer loading patterns for pallets;

FIGS. 14 and 15 show additional examples of how underdeck containers canbe connected and disconnected;

FIG. 16 is a schematic top view showing that a single underdeckcontainer can be sized to extend through the length of at least onepallet;

FIG. 17 shows the connecting and disconnecting of underdeck containersalso having lids, in this embodiment having eyelets in container and lidportions through which a coupling can serve to couple all containers andlids together;

FIG. 18 is a schematic top view of the connecting and disconnecting ofunderdeck containers having lids, in this embodiment having bars on thecontainer and lid portions through which a coupling can serve to coupleall containers and lids together; and

FIG. 19 is a cross-section taken along the line 19-19 in FIG. 18 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-3 , an embodiment of a shipping palletarrangement of this invention is shown and designated by the numeral 10(FIG. 2 ). The shipping pallet arrangement 10 includes a pallet 12having an underdeck opening 14 to a storage volume 16 under the top deck18. The top deck supports the primary goods g for transport in thenormal manners currently employed. The present invention improves theart and provides the opportunity for major players to save millions ofdollars by providing an underdeck container 20 holding additional goodsg_(plus) and being received within the storage volume 16.

FIGS. 1-3 show a block pallet design, but any of various pallets orskids fitting the following general description maybe employed inaccordance with the present invention. A pallet or skid simply needs anunderdeck opening that provides access to a storage volume under a topdeck so that an underdeck container holding goods can be positionedunder the top deck during transport.

Here forward, the pallet 12, the underdeck opening 14, the storagevolume 16, and the underdeck container 20 will be referenced as thefirst pallet 12, the first underdeck opening 14, the first storagevolume 16, and the first underdeck container 20, but use of “first” ismerely so that other embodiments of the invention, particularly thoseembodiments that include two or more of these elements, might be morethoroughly disclosed and understood grammatically. It is intended that ashipping arrangement can have a single underdeck opening providingaccess to a single storage volume with a single underdeck container andyet still fall within the invention disclosed and claimed herein.Specifically, the term “first” is not to be interpreted as requiringthat there must be a “second,” and this is particularly true for theclaims. The term “first” is again only used so that later embodimentsemploying second pallets, second underdeck openings, second storagevolumes, and second underdeck containers can be clearly disclosed anddistinguished from those first disclosed.

The terms “pallet” and “pallets” are to be understood as also coveringskids or skid pallets, which typically include only a single underdeckopening to a single storage volume under the top deck.

Without limitation, the present invention contemplates the use of 4-way(e.g., FIG. 1 ) and 2-way (e.g., FIG. 4 ) pallets, and, withoutlimitation, such pallets may include block pallets, double-face pallets,double-wing pallets, flush pallets, 4-way stringer pallets,non-reversable pallets, reversable pallets, single-face pallets,single-wing pallets, skid pallets, solid deck pallets, and 2-waystringer pallets. The invention is also adaptable to the widely used andregulated EURO pallet (European Pallet Association).

In some embodiments, the pallet 12 has a stringer 22 (FIG. 4 ) orstringer board 24 (FIG. 1 ) and length 1 and width w dimensions, thelength 1 being in the direction of the stringer 22 or stringer board 24and extending between a first end 26 and a second end 28 of the pallet12, the width w being perpendicular to the length 1. As seen in FIG. 3 ,the first underdeck container 20 is insertable and extractable, in adrawer-like fashion, into and out of the first underdeck opening 16, inthe direction of the length 1 of the pallet 12.

As shown schematically, in the top view of FIG. 5 , shown with the topdeck 18 removed, a single underdeck container 20 may be employed in agiven storage volume (such as first storage volume 16 under a top deck18), but embodiments of the present invention include instances wheretwo or more underdeck containers are employed in a single storagevolume, such as shown in the schematic top view of FIG. 6 . Therein, ina first storage volume 16 under a top deck 18 (shown removed in FIGS. 5and 6 ), both a first underdeck container 20 and a second underdeckcontainer 30 are received within the first storage volume 16. Just aswith the first underdeck container 20, the second underdeck container 30would hold goods for shipping.

FIG. 6 also shows that, in some embodiments, underdeck containers can bemade to connect one to the other, such as represented at connection 31.This can be practiced as shown, with multiple underdeck containersfitting within a single storage area or with embodiments line that inFIG. 5 . In some embodiments, underdeck containers connect to oneanother so as to be moved together, forming a train of underdeckcontainers insertable and extractable in drawer-like fashion. Theconnections can be virtually any type, including without limitation,latch and catch types, magnetic types, hook-and-loop types, couplinglink types and the like. Particular latch and catch structures are shownand disclosed in FIGS. 7-9 , with an aperture being a catch and a rodbeing a latch; in FIG. 13 , with eyelets and a coupling link, with theeyelets serving as catches for a carabiner-type coupling link service asa latch; and in FIG. 14 with an aperture for a catch and a scissor clipfor a latch.

With some pallets, and particularly, skid pallets, only a first storagevolume is provided, but, in the more popular pallet styles, two (i.e.,first and second) storage volumes are provided. Thus, in FIGS. 1 and 6 ,the first underdeck opening 14 and the first storage volume 16 aredistinguished from a second underdeck opening 32 and a second storagevolume 34 by a mid-support 36, often a middle block (as shown) or middleboard further supporting the top deck. This second underdeck opening 34can receive one or more underdeck containers as already disclosed aboveand schematically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . Indeed, more than twounderdeck containers could be employed in a single storage volume underthe top deck.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , some embodiments of the present inventionfurther include a second underdeck opening 32 opening to a secondstorage volume 34, under the top deck 18 of the pallet 12, and at leasta third underdeck container 38 holding goods is received within thesecond storage volume 34. In some embodiments, the third underdeckcontainer 38 is insertable and extractable in a drawer-like fashion intoand out of its respective underdeck opening in the direction of thelength 1 of the pallet. In some embodiments, the first storage volumeand the second storage volume each receive two underdeck containers, asschematically shown in FIG. 6 . Thus, FIG. 6 provides a fourth underdeckcontainer 40 holding goods and received at least partially within thesecond storage volume.

In some embodiments, the third underdeck container 38 and fourthcontainer 40 connect to one another so as to be moved together, forminga train of underdeck containers insertable and extractable in adrawer-like fashion. Because a train of underdeck containers is employedin some embodiments, it is sufficient in some embodiments that any givenunderdeck container can fit at least partially within a storage volume.As seen in FIG. 16 , a single underdeck container 20 can be sized toextend through the length of at least one pallet. It may be found usefulto allow an underdeck container to be the length of multiple pallets orany particular fraction of such length. In some embodiments, theunderdeck container may be a long as the trailer in which it is to fitpermits. The intent is to maximize use of the volume of the underdeckopenings, and there is a balance between using that space and the costof the labor to use that space. Different connecting structures anddifferent container sizes may be found beneficial for certain purposes.

With reference to FIGS. 7-9 , in some embodiments, the underdeckcontainers are connected by a male member mating with a female member.This is shown in FIG. 7 with the first underdeck container 20 having afemale member 42 mating a male member 44 of the second underdeckcontainer 30. In some embodiments, the female member 42 will simply beprovided as an aperture 46 in a flange 48, the aperture 46 serving toreceive a rod 50 extending from a flange 52 of the second underdeckcontainer 30. Of course, other connectors and means for connection canbe employed, but this is found suitable and efficient for product designand particularly for insertion and extraction of underdeck containers ina manner that will be more fully disclosed below.

In some embodiments, all underdeck containers are identical and nestableone within the other such that, when not in use, they can be storedstacked one upon the other. Thus, in some embodiments, the underdeckcontainers do not include surfaces that extend vertically (in thedirection of stacking) to an extent that prohibits stackability.Instead, surfaces are angled outwardly so as to stack as exemplified inFIG. 10 .

In FIG. 14 , each side of the underdeck containers contain a connectingstructure 60 and a releasable coupling 62 used to connect twoneighboring connecting structures together as the containers meetend-to-end. In FIG. 14 , the connecting structure 60 is an eyelet, andthe coupling 62 is a carabiner. In FIG. 15 , the coupling 62 is a strap67 with selectively releasable clips at each end of the strap 67. Insome embodiments, one end of the strap 67 could instead be morepermanently secured to a connecting structure 60 so as to always beassociated therewith, and the other end would have a selectivelyoperable clip.

In some embodiments, as seen in FIGS. 17-19 , each side of the underdeckcontainer incudes a connecting structure 60 recessed inwardly from thedistal end 68 of the container wall 70 proximate that connectingstructure 60. With this structure, the distal ends 68 of the containerscreate bumper sections 43 that will contact one another upon insertingmultiple containers under pallets, while the connecting structure 60remains recessed and is not contacted. This protects the connectingstructure 60. In FIG. 17 , the connecting structure 60 is an eyelet,while in FIGS. 17 and 18 , the connecting structure 60 is a bar 72. Toconnect neighboring connecting structures together, the aforementionedcoupling 62 could be used. Notably, containers connected in a train inthe fashion of FIGS. 16-18 can be readily removed from beneath one ormore pallets by pulling on a lead container, with the remainingconnected containers following. In some embodiments, the container wall70 is sloped and the lack of any walls extending vertically allow thecontainers to nest, as noted already herein.

As seen in FIG. 11 , in some embodiments, the underside of an underdeckcontainer 20 includes one or more runners 54 on the bottom surface 55,the runners being suitable to facilitate insertion and extraction of anunderdeck container into and out of storage volumes under a pallet. Insome embodiments, the runners 54 provide a reduced surface area ofcontact with the surface upon which they slide. In some embodiments, therunners 54 are a low-friction material, such as silicone or any suchsuitable material (with the intention to reduce the force needed to pushin or pull out of the underdeck opening a container or train ofcontainers. In some embodiments, either the front surface of theunderdeck container or the front surface of the runners 54 or both aresloped (as exemplified in FIG. 11 ) so as to ride over minor obstaclesrather than presenting an abrupt abutting face. As seen in FIG. 1 , manypallets have a bottom deck board 56 with or without chamfers 58, andsloped front surfaces to either the container or the runners or both canensure that an underdeck container inserts over the bottom deck boardmore easily. Because the surface that serves as the “front” depends onwhether one is inserting or extracting, it will be appreciated that bothends of the runners or the containers would be sloped in someembodiments.

It should not be readily appreciated that the present invention providesadvancements in shipping pallet arrangements by adventitiously takingadvantage of the storage volumes defined by shipping pallets. Any numberof goods are suitable for fitting in the necessarily modestly sizedcontainers that would fit in these storage volumes provided by commonpallets, and if packing a trailer to the roof can save tens of millionsof dollars for some companies, certainly packing a trailer to the“floor” could also save substantial amounts of money.

With respect to labor cost, the aspect of connecting underdeckcontainers together and making them insertable and extractable in adrawer-like fashion ensures that labor is minimized. A first underdeckcontainer holding goods can be inserted into an underdeck opening in apallet, leaving exposed its connecting means at its trailing end. A newunderdeck container carrying additional goods can be connected to thattrailing end through its connector, and the two containers furtherpushed in a drawer-like fashion or train-like fashion further under thepallet. In extraction, the second container inserted would be grabbedand pulled, dragging the first underdeck container with it.

In some embodiments, such as seen in FIGS. 7-9 , connectors such asfemale member 42 and male member 44 are positioned in recesses 41defined by bumper portions 43. The bumper portions 43 extend such that asecond underdeck container can be connected to a first underdeckcontainer and the two pushed through the underdeck opening, with thebumper portions 43 coming into contact and protecting the connectionmechanisms. Upon pulling to remove such connected underdeck containers,the connection mechanism takes over and, in the case here, the secondunderdeck container would pull the first underdeck container out as thesecond underdeck container is removed from the underdeck opening.

Thus, as seen in FIG. 12 , the present invention contemplates whereinthe pallet 12 is simply one of a plurality of pallets 12, 12 a, and 12b. Each of the plurality of pallets have an underdeck opening to astorage volume under a top deck holding goods, and the plurality ofpallets are arranged so that each of the underdeck openings of each ofthe plurality of pallets align to create an underdeck tunnel under thetop decks of the plurality of pallets. With the pallets positioned inthe trailer and creating an underdeck tunnel a plurality of underdeckcontainers 20, 30, 20 a, 30 a, 20 b, 30 b, each holding goods, can beinserted and connected one after another as described above. The palletswith two underdeck openings to two separate underdeck storage volumeswill align to create two underdeck tunnels. It should be readilyappreciated, with the concepts described herein, nearly the entirevolume of a trailer can be advantageously packed with goods forshipment. This tunnel creation is common in “straight loading” ofpallets on a trailer (See FIG. 13 ), and the ability to create a trainof underdeck containers extending through such at tunnel greatlyincreases the volume of the trailer beneficially employed to transportgoods.

Any type of underdeck container disclosed herein will, in someembodiments, contain a lid. The lid could be made to nest in other lidsso as to be stored most efficiently. In some embodiments, such as thatshown in FIG. 17-19 , a lid 74, having a connecting structure 76, isemployed to help close the containers of this invention (i.e., container20 etc.). The connecting structure 76 of the lid 74 lies proximate theconnecting structure 60 of the container, and, in these embodiments, anysuitable coupling 62 could be used to connect not only two neighboringcontainers together, but also their lids 74, as the containers meetend-to-end. The coupling 62 at each end of a container will secure thecontainers to one another and the lids to each of their respectivecontainers.

From at least FIGS. 17-19 , it is appreciated the present inventionprovides a shipping container adapted to fit in a storage volume defineby an underdeck opening of a shipping pallet, the container comprising:a first wall having a distal end defining a first recess; a firstconnecting structure positioned within the first recess; a second wallopposite the first wall and having a distal end defining a secondrecess; a second connecting structure positioned within the secondrecess, wherein the first and second connecting structures are adaptedto receive a coupling such that multiple shipping containers can beconnected together by locating the distal end of a first wall of a firstshipping container proximate the distal end of a second wall of a secondshipping container and securing a coupling about the first connectingstructure of the first shipping container and the second connectingportion of the second shipping container. Lids can be employed in someembodiments, the lids having connecting structures being secured by thecoupling as well.

In some uses, the train of underdeck containers can be created afterstraight loading of the pallets, simply feeding and pushing eachsuccessive underdeck container in a drawer-like fashion into the tunnel.Low friction runners might be found beneficial. If weight/frictionprohibits such loading, a pallet could be loaded onto the trailer, thenloaded with underdeck container(s), then the next pallet loaded instraight loading fashion and filled with underdeck container(s) and soon. Notably, if the efficiency of loading and unloading the underdeckcontainers and the value of the addition goods (g_(plus)) held thereinwarrant the extra cost in time and labor, even turned loading,pinwheeled loading, and distribution weight loading can benefit from theshipping pallet arrangements and related shipping methods disclosedherein.

Thus, the present invention contemplates a method for shipping goods ina transport container (i.e., trailer) including positioning a firstpallet in the transport container, the first pallet having a firstunderdeck opening to a first storage volume under a top deck havinggoods thereon; storing goods within a first underdeck container; afterthe step of storing and the step of positioning, receiving the firstunderdeck container within the first storage volume; and, after the stepof receiving, shipping the transport container. The insertion andextraction of a train of underdeck containers as described above is alsocontemplated in the method, the insertion occurring before shipping andextraction after arrival at a destination.

In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the presentinvention significantly advances the art by providing shippingarrangements and methods that are structurally and functionally improvedin a number of ways. While particular embodiments of the invention havebeen disclosed in detail herein, it should be appreciated that theinvention is not limited thereto or thereby inasmuch as variations onthe invention herein will be readily appreciated by those of ordinaryskill in the art. The scope of the invention shall be appreciated fromthe claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shipping pallet arrangement comprising: a firstpallet having a first underdeck opening to a first storage volume undera top deck, said top deck supporting goods for transport; and a firstunderdeck container holding goods and at least partially received withinthe first storage volume.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein thepallet has a stringer or stringer board and length and width dimensions,the length being in the direction of the stringer or stringer board andextending between a first end and a second end of the pallet, the widthbeing perpendicular to the length.
 3. The combination of claim 2,wherein the first underdeck container is insertable and removable, in adrawer-like fashion, into and out of the first underdeck opening in thedirection of the length of the pallet.
 4. The combination of claim 3,further comprising a second underdeck container holding goods andreceived at least partially within the first storage volume.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4, wherein the first and second underdeckcontainers connect to one another so as to be moved together, forming atrain of underdeck containers insertable and extractable in adrawer-like fashion.
 6. The combination of claim 5, further comprising:a second underdeck opening to a second storage volume under the top deckof the pallet; and at least a third underdeck container holding goodsbeing received within the second storage volume, the third underdeckcontainer being insertable and removable, in a drawer-like fashion, intoand out of its respective underdeck opening in the direction of thelength of the pallet.
 7. The combination of claim 6, further comprisinga fourth underdeck container holding goods and received at leastpartially within the second storage volume.
 8. The combination of claim7, wherein the third and fourth underdeck containers connect to oneanother so as to be moved together, forming a train of underdeckcontainers, insertable and extractable in a drawer-like fashion.
 9. Thepallet arrangement of claim 5, wherein the first underdeck container andthe second underdeck container are connected by a male member matingwith a female member.
 10. The pallet arrangement of claim 9, wherein themale member is a rod and the female member is an aperture.
 11. Thepallet arrangement of claim 5, wherein the first underdeck container andthe second underdeck container are connected by a latch and catchmechanism.
 12. The pallet arrangement of claim 1, wherein the firstunderdeck container includes runners suitable to facilitate insertionand extraction of the first underdeck container.
 13. The palletarrangement of claim 1, wherein the pallet is one of a plurality ofpallets, each of the plurality of pallets having an underdeck opening toa storage volume under a top deck holding goods, said plurality ofpallets arranged so that each of the underdeck openings of each of theplurality of pallets align to create an underdeck tunnel under the topdecks of the plurality of pallets; and wherein the underdeck containeris one of a plurality of underdeck containers, each of the plurality ofunderdeck containers holding goods and each being connectable to anotherof the plurality of underdeck containers so as to form a train ofunderdeck containers insertable and extractable in a drawer-like fashioninto and out of the underdeck tunnel.
 14. A method for shipping goods ina transport container comprising: positioning a first pallet in thetransport container, the first pallet having a first underdeck openingto a first storage volume under a top deck having goods thereon; storinggoods within a first underdeck container; after the step of storing andthe step of positioning, receiving the first underdeck container withinthe first storage volume; and after the step of receiving, shipping thetransport container.
 15. A shipping container adapted to fit in astorage volume define by an underdeck opening of a shipping pallet, thecontainer comprising: a first wall having a distal end defining a firstrecess; a first connecting structure positioned within the first recess;a second wall opposite the first wall and having a distal end defining asecond recess; and a second connecting structure positioned within thesecond recess, wherein the first and second connecting structures areadapted to received a coupling such that multiple shipping containerscan be connected together by locating the distal end of a first wall ofa first shipping container proximate the distal end of a second wall ofa second shipping container and securing a coupling about the firstconnecting structure of the first shipping container and the secondconnecting structure of the second shipping container.